HONOLULU -- The 30th anniversary cover of Hawaii's new 2003 edition of the Verizon SuperPages(tm) telephone directory features artwork entitled "Ka aina o Pele" (The Land of Pele) by Hilo artist Kathleen Kam. Verizon Hawaii President Warren Haruki unveiled the new cover today at the Hilo Rotary Club meeting on the Big Island.

The Artwork and Artist

In a tradition begun in 1973, Verizon features an artist from a different island each year on the SuperPages cover. "Ka aina o Pele" depicts the volcano Kilauea erupting and framed by the area's lush rainforest foliage, including nearly 20 indigenous plants.

"The eruption dramatizes Madame Pele as blackened clouds, looming over distant cooling lava flows," said Kam. "The dense forest, tree ferns, ohia-lehua and koa trees, which are silhouetted by the orange glow, reveal Pele to be the transformer of life, which then begets more life."

Honolulu-born Kam studied at the Honolulu Academy of Arts and the University of Hawaii before relocating to Hilo where she has lived for many years. An art instructor at St. Joseph High School, Kam feels "blessed" that her artwork appears on the front cover of more than two million Verizon SuperPages directories that will be distributed to and used by Hawaii residents and businesses this year.

Oahu SuperPages

On July 1, Verizon begins distributing more than a million SuperPages phone books to Oahu residents. Neighbor Island SuperPages directories will be distributed in the fall. Residents should notice a new cover design this year that better showcases the local artwork that's featured every year. The directory's feature and community information was moved to the inside front cover to make more room for the artwork.

The Oahu SuperPages includes business yellow pages, alphabetical residential and business white page listings and a comprehensive "blue pages" local government section. In addition, a Dining Your Way! Restaurant Guide spotlights area restaurants, and includes an A-Z index, menus and maps. "Our area's residents and vacationers love to eat out and the 'Dining Your Way!' guide is a very helpful, easy-to-use feature," said Verizon SuperPages General Sales Manager Kevin Bailey.

Hawaii shoppers, businesses and potential visitors also have access to the country's most-used online directory, SuperPages.com, as well as the leading Spanish-language online directory -- SuperPages.com en Español.

As the new directories are delivered, Verizon encourages all residents and businesses to recycle old directories. As a result of a partnership with the City & County of Honolulu, Oahu residents can discard old directories at one of 100 community recycling bins located across the island. A list of bin locations can be found at www.opala.org.

In addition, free pick up of bulk collections (400 or more books) from large office buildings, hotels and condominiums can be arranged through Island Recycling by calling 845-1188. Quantities of less than 400 can be dropped off at one of Island Recycling's two locations -- 1811 Dillingham Boulevard (open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and 50 Sand Island Access Road (open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Any Oahu business or resident who does not receive a Verizon SuperPages by July 31 should call 833-2018 to have one delivered.

Artwork on Display

Until June 25 "Ka aina o Pele" will be on display at the Volcano Arts Museum at Hawaii National Park in Hilo. From June 27 through July 5 it will be displayed in the lobby of Verizon Hawaii's regional headquarters at 1177 Bishop Street, Honolulu for public viewing.

About Verizon Information Services

Verizon Information Services is the world's leading print and online directory publisher, a content provider for communications products and services, and the largest publisher of Hispanic directories in the U.S. With operations in 14 countries and annual revenues of more than $4.3 billion, Verizon Information Services publishes 1,200 U.S. Verizon SuperPages directories and nearly 400 international directories with a total circulation of approximately 156 million copies worldwide.

Based in the Dallas area, Verizon Information Services produces and markets SuperPages.com, the Internet's #1 online directory and shopping resource. SuperPages.com receives as many as 16 million visits and 10 million unique visitors a month and powers directory services on MSN, InfoSpace, Excite, Lycos, Univision.com, Terra.com, YupiMSN.com, Ask Jeeves, HotBot, BigFoot, Tripod and Angelfire as well as more than 2,500 affiliate Web sites.

The company supports computer literacy with philanthropic programs and through the Enlighten Me and Internet Learning Tutor sites on SuperPages.com. Enlighten Me is a fun site where children and their caregivers go to read, learn and explore. The Internet Learning Tutor is specifically designed for adults who are just learning their way around the Internet.

Verizon Information Services is a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Through its signature Verizon Reads program and the Verizon Literacy Network, Verizon is leading the fight to increase U.S. literacy levels by creating community and corporate awareness, raising funds, encouraging collaboration among literacy providers and engaging employees in supporting literacy programs.